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Religious Affections A TREATISE CONCERNING RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS. IN THREE PARTS. BY JONATHAN EDWARDS originally published in 1746 Modernized language, formatting, syntax, corrections, and notes (in blue) by William H. Gross – www.onthewing.org © May 2008 Edwards’ archaic use of “discoveries” is modernized as “revelations.” Source: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/affections.html Also “The Works of Jonathan Edwards,” 1834, Volume I (CCEL) As revised and corrected by Edward Hickman The Banner of Truth Trust Scripture quotes in the notes are taken from the New King James Version, Thomas Nelson, Inc. – Publishers. Sam Storms also paraphrased this work in modern language (2007). You may purchase it here: http://www.amazon.com/Signs-Spirit-Interpretation-Religious-Affections/dp/1581349327 Last updated: 6/17/2015 Editor’s Comments Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psa 139:23-24 NIV Jonathan Edwards was a brilliant man, a Renaissance man. His interests involved every aspect of the human condition, and every area of science. But his primary passion was to speak the truth of God, and to have that truth not only govern his own life, but the life of the church. The church is the Body of Christ, living in this world; it testifies to what Christ has done, and what he continues to do as Savior, Redeemer, Intercessor, and King. He is at work in every believer by his Spirit, both individually, and corporately. And so Edwards prayed ardently for a revival in America, because he heard magnificent things had happened during the revivals in England. And yet, when the Great Awakening arrived on American shores, something foreign was afoot. The externals may have been present, but the corresponding change of heart, grounded in Scriptural truth, was sadly lacking. Sincere love and genuine belief was being mimicked; false conversions were making a mockery of the true faith, and of faithful believers. It seemed to Edwards that the devil was at work in some of this, despite all the outward trimmings of religion. But it wasn’t just the mimicking that troubled him. It was also the disdain of many in the church for any spiritual experience, as if nothing could be experienced of God beyond the written text of Scripture. Such a cold, dry, intellectual understanding was as reprehensible to Edwards, as this other boisterous and ungrounded celebration of things religious. If the Gospel truth and the love of God's inherent loveliness and holiness, are the initial and primary stimuli of a strong emotional response in the hearts of believers, then, says Edwards, such a lively and gracious affection must not be dismissed or denigrated. So, in the tradition of Joseph Alleine’s work, Alarm to the Unconverted, and Thomas Shepard’s work, Parable of the Ten Virgins, Edwards challenged the church to take stock of itself, of its beliefs and practices, individually and corporately. Rather than merely castigate what he perceived as false professions of faith in Christ, or unfounded assessments of them, this treatise provides tests for truly gracious affections and religious experiences. Edwards exhorts believers to examine themselves, and to judge what they have placed their faith in. He weighs the subtle differences between true and false professions in the scales of God's word. All believers would do well to examine their faith and practice against the biblical standards he lays out here. Two source texts were used for this modernized version. Previous editors removed some archaic words and syntax. But this present edition is probably closer to a paraphrase. Words have been substituted and added, parallelism has been employed, run-on sentences have been broken into several sentences for easier reading, and pronouns with no reference are now referenced. Unnecessary and duplicative words that obscured the meaning and impact of Edwards’ observations have been removed. The syntax has been simplified by removing parenthetical statements, and rearranging misplaced clauses. However, his entire treatise is here. Hopefully, what is missing will not be missed. You are, of course, welcome to read his original treatise if a paraphrase seems somehow irreverent. I pray that no substantive errors in this edition belie my intent to remain faithful to the original work. I also pray that you find it useful to draw you nearer to Christ, to correct your walk, and to affirm your faith. This work is in the public domain (you may copy it freely); but you may not sell, modify, or claim this modernization as your own. I reserve those and all other rights to myself. William H. Gross December 2011 Last updated: 6/17/2015 Contents INTRODUCTION. ............................................................................................................... 1 PART I. ................................................................................................................................ 5 CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE AFFECTIONS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN RELIGION. .................................................................................................................................... 5 1. The Affections of the Mind .................................................................................................................. 7 2. Evidence that true religion, in great part, consists in the affections ................................................. 8 PART II. ............................................................................................................................. 24 SHOWING WHAT ARE NO CERTAIN SIGNS THAT RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS ARE GRACIOUS, OR NOT GRACIOUS. ............................................................................................. 24 3. Being zealous about religious things is no sign of gracious affections ............................................ 30 4. Externally-induced affections are not necessarily gracious ............................................................. 32 5. Facile recollection of Scripture is not a sign of true religious affections ......................................... 35 6. Religious affections are not saving because love appears in them .................................................. 38 7. Having a variety of religious affections does not make them gracious ............................................ 40 8. Attack of conscience leading to comfort or joy is no sign of gracious affections ............................. 43 9. External religious duties are not a sign of religious affections ........................................................ 50 10. Praising and glorifying God is no clear sign of religious affections ............................................... 52 11. Confidence in divine experiences is not a sign of religious affections ............................................ 54 12. Appearing holy and religious is no sign of religious affections ...................................................... 63 PART III. ........................................................................................................................... 69 SHOWING WHAT ARE DISTINGUISHING SIGNS OF TRULY GRACIOUS AND HOLY AFFECTIONS. ............................................................................................................................. 69 1. Gracious Affections arise from supernatural influences on the heart .............................................. 72 2. The ground of gracious affections is the objective nature of divine things ..................................... 95 3. Gracious Affections are founded on the moral excellence of divine things ................................... 104 4. Gracious affections arise from an enlightened mind ...................................................................... 112 5. Gracious affections are attended by a conviction of divine things .................................................. 127 6. Gracious affections are attended by evangelical humility ............................................................... 139 7. Gracious affections are attended by a change of nature .................................................................. 156 8. Gracious affections are attended by the temperament of Christ .................................................... 159 9. Gracious affections soften the heart and tender the spirit .............................................................. 167 10. Gracious affections are proportionately virtuous .......................................................................... 172 11. As gracious affections grow, so does the spiritual appetite ........................................................... 179 12. Gracious affections have their exercise and fruit in Christian practice ....................................... 183 (1) Christian practice is the best evidence to others of a sincere profession. ................................. 196 What is a credible profession of faith in Christ? ............................................................................ 200 (2) Christian practice is the best evidence to one’s conscience of a sincere profession. ............... 205 ARGUMENT 1. ............................................................................................................................... 209 ARGUMENT 2. ............................................................................................................................... 210 ARGUMENT 3. ...............................................................................................................................
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